Easy Way To Write A Good Villanelle Poem
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Like Water Pouring into a Cup, You Too Can Easily Write a Villanelle Poem.
So, what is a Villanelle?
Villanelles started about 300 years ago.
Origins in Italian and French poetry.
It has a complex rhymed pattern, which makes it challenging by rewarding to write.
What makes a villanelle unique is the repetition of rhymes, and the order in which they fall.
The pattern is five triplets followed by a quatrain
The first line of the first stanza is repeated in its entirety three more times in the poem, in L6, L12, and L18.
The third line of the first stanza is repeated in L9, L15, and L19. Perhaps the easiest way to express this is as follows:
A-b-A1
a-b-A
a-b-A1
a-b-A
a-b-A1
a-b-A-A1
Where A and A1 are lines that are repeated or refrain lines. As you can see, you need a lot of "a" rhymes, and almost as many "b" rhymes! The meter on a villanelle can be anything you choose, but must be regular. Commonly written in pentameter, but can be tetrameter or any other variation, as long as it is constant.
Villanelles started about 300 years ago.
Origins in Italian and French poetry.
It has a complex rhymed pattern, which makes it challenging by rewarding to write.
What makes a villanelle unique is the repetition of rhymes, and the order in which they fall.
The pattern is five triplets followed by a quatrain
The first line of the first stanza is repeated in its entirety three more times in the poem, in L6, L12, and L18.
The third line of the first stanza is repeated in L9, L15, and L19. Perhaps the easiest way to express this is as follows:
A-b-A1
a-b-A
a-b-A1
a-b-A
a-b-A1
a-b-A-A1
Where A and A1 are lines that are repeated or refrain lines. As you can see, you need a lot of "a" rhymes, and almost as many "b" rhymes! The meter on a villanelle can be anything you choose, but must be regular. Commonly written in pentameter, but can be tetrameter or any other variation, as long as it is constant.
Step 1: Pick out a Villanelle Poem
OK, don't stress out if you've read the tech stuff. I'll make this easy, by showing you How I Write Villanelles?
First visualize in your mind or remember back to when you were pouring milk, water or soda into a cup. Now, think of the words you will be writing as the water. The cup is the form of the Villanelle. It's just that easy.
Next, think about the big subject or universal you want to write about. Just muse along in your mind. You might even do this for a couple of days before pouring any words into the Villanelle form!
When you are ready find a copy of a good structured Villanelle. I'm using this one from soulsease.com below:
Make sure you are on a blank page, you don't need the complication of page breaks here.
Monet (Villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
People scurrying to meet their fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Snow covers the houses and the street
Extra burden means they may be late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Despite the cold, their manners are still sweet
Bonjour, ca va? Brief stories they relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Thread through the trees, aligned so neat
Into the market place, with hurried gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
And to the artist's stall, the latest treat
Just time to take a glance, but not to wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
A waterlily dream, poppies in wheat?
Secluded bridge? No, a cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
Well there is the Villanelle form we will be working with.
Read the Villanelle poem once or twice. Get a feel for it.
Notice the rhymes repeating. Notice the repeating rhymes.
Notice the tercet or triplet stanzas until the ending quatrain stanza.
Notice the beat or syllable count: 5 foot or 10 syllable count mostly.
Count the syllables out on your pinkies or tap out with your foot.
Good.
First visualize in your mind or remember back to when you were pouring milk, water or soda into a cup. Now, think of the words you will be writing as the water. The cup is the form of the Villanelle. It's just that easy.
Next, think about the big subject or universal you want to write about. Just muse along in your mind. You might even do this for a couple of days before pouring any words into the Villanelle form!
When you are ready find a copy of a good structured Villanelle. I'm using this one from soulsease.com below:
Make sure you are on a blank page, you don't need the complication of page breaks here.
Monet (Villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
People scurrying to meet their fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Snow covers the houses and the street
Extra burden means they may be late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Despite the cold, their manners are still sweet
Bonjour, ca va? Brief stories they relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Thread through the trees, aligned so neat
Into the market place, with hurried gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
And to the artist's stall, the latest treat
Just time to take a glance, but not to wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
A waterlily dream, poppies in wheat?
Secluded bridge? No, a cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
Well there is the Villanelle form we will be working with.
Read the Villanelle poem once or twice. Get a feel for it.
Notice the rhymes repeating. Notice the repeating rhymes.
Notice the tercet or triplet stanzas until the ending quatrain stanza.
Notice the beat or syllable count: 5 foot or 10 syllable count mostly.
Count the syllables out on your pinkies or tap out with your foot.
Good.
Step 2: Copy the Villanelle Poem Above and Translate into Villanelle Form
Now copy the Villanelle poem above. This will be your working copy. You will use the original poem to refer back to and make sure you got the rhymes sequence correct. Just highlight, copy and paste below (again make sure your poem is all on one page):
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
People scurrying to meet their fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Snow covers the houses and the street
Extra burden means they may be late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Despite the cold, their manners are still sweet
Bonjour, ca va? Brief stories they relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Thread through the trees, aligned so neat
Into the market place, with hurried gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
And to the artist's stall, the latest treat
Just time to take a glance, but not to wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
A waterlily dream, poppies in wheat?
Secluded bridge? No, a cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
Basically the Villanelle form looks like this:
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
You will be supplying the words where dashes exist in the same foot or syllable count. You will also be supplying the new rhymes if you choose a different rhyme sound. Really the poem is half written if you can get lines 1 and line 3 in the first tercet or triplet stanza!
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
People scurrying to meet their fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Snow covers the houses and the street
Extra burden means they may be late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Despite the cold, their manners are still sweet
Bonjour, ca va? Brief stories they relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Thread through the trees, aligned so neat
Into the market place, with hurried gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
And to the artist's stall, the latest treat
Just time to take a glance, but not to wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
A waterlily dream, poppies in wheat?
Secluded bridge? No, a cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
Basically the Villanelle form looks like this:
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
You will be supplying the words where dashes exist in the same foot or syllable count. You will also be supplying the new rhymes if you choose a different rhyme sound. Really the poem is half written if you can get lines 1 and line 3 in the first tercet or triplet stanza!
Step 3: Filling in the Villanelle Form
Since your poem is half done, let's complete it.
First create the LAST LINE in the poem which also creates the third line in the first tercet stanza of the Villanelle!
Aha! The beauty of some forms is their repeating lines.
*Courage, courage to those that think!*
This has a tetrameter or 4 foot or 8 syllable count.
Ok. Think about this poem line for a second:
Is it a big enough thought to hold the reader's attention all throughout the poem?
You'll have to use it three times as the last line in the tercet or triplet stanzas 1, 3, 4 and once as the last line in the quatrain.
Do you like this line?
Do you think this line will flow with the lines before and after it?
Do you think you have enough "think" sounding rhyme words?
Check your rhyming dictionary and see.
Do not worry about a title at this point.
OK. It's passed all our questions.
Let's place this line into our working copy of the Villanelle.
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Courage, courage to those that think!
OK. Looks good. Do not think too hard about punctuation. You want to make sure the sentences flow. You do know this sentence terminates or is end-stopped.
Now we need the first line of the poem. Hmmmmm what would go well with the last line. We'll have to use this first line three times in the tercet or triplet stanzas: In line 1 of stanza 1, in line 3 of stanzas 2 and 4; and in line 3 in the last quatrain stanza.
Our questions are similar about this next line:
I must like this line?
It must flow with the lines before and after it?
This line must be a developing line and leading line? It must push the poem's thought to higher or deeper matters.
It should be capable of standing on its own maybe too.
It should be exciting. I'll see it often.
It must rhyme with "think"?
Check your rhyming dictionary and see.
*Those who write themselves must not blink*
OK. This line passed our test let's place it in our poem by highlighting the line and copying it. Then highlight the line we will be replacing and right clicking and selecting paste.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
Looks like we could use some punctuation on that line, a period. But let's go on for now. Take care of punctuation in the editing phase. Tell your critic or editor to shhhsss for now. Let your writer/creative have the page or stage if you will.
Read over what you have there.
Do you like it?
Does it express your thoughts clearly?
Notice all the repeating lines are completed!
Now for the real creative, fun part. This is where you make the Villanelle totally your own poem. It will not longer be the free verse poem of long ago, which finally came to be called the Villanelle. It will be your very own Villanelle!
*Let's do it!*
Might as well start at the top with line 2 in tercet stanza 1.
Hmmm. What thought goes with lines 1 and 3 of stanza one and would fit in well in the other lines?
*They should strive to live and to see!*
That develops the poem into a deeper level, but it stands on its own too.
It also has nice "see" rhyme to it.
Checking the dictionary. Plenty of "see" rhymes.
It does have terminating punctuation, so I can't have mid-thought from lines after this line.
But oh! I just checked. I don't need any mid-thought lines in the placement of this one line.
Let's use it.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
Oh, yes. Good. Well, you've just completed the first tercet stanza in your Villanelle.
First create the LAST LINE in the poem which also creates the third line in the first tercet stanza of the Villanelle!
Aha! The beauty of some forms is their repeating lines.
*Courage, courage to those that think!*
This has a tetrameter or 4 foot or 8 syllable count.
Ok. Think about this poem line for a second:
Is it a big enough thought to hold the reader's attention all throughout the poem?
You'll have to use it three times as the last line in the tercet or triplet stanzas 1, 3, 4 and once as the last line in the quatrain.
Do you like this line?
Do you think this line will flow with the lines before and after it?
Do you think you have enough "think" sounding rhyme words?
Check your rhyming dictionary and see.
Do not worry about a title at this point.
OK. It's passed all our questions.
Let's place this line into our working copy of the Villanelle.
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Courage, courage to those that think!
OK. Looks good. Do not think too hard about punctuation. You want to make sure the sentences flow. You do know this sentence terminates or is end-stopped.
Now we need the first line of the poem. Hmmmmm what would go well with the last line. We'll have to use this first line three times in the tercet or triplet stanzas: In line 1 of stanza 1, in line 3 of stanzas 2 and 4; and in line 3 in the last quatrain stanza.
Our questions are similar about this next line:
I must like this line?
It must flow with the lines before and after it?
This line must be a developing line and leading line? It must push the poem's thought to higher or deeper matters.
It should be capable of standing on its own maybe too.
It should be exciting. I'll see it often.
It must rhyme with "think"?
Check your rhyming dictionary and see.
*Those who write themselves must not blink*
OK. This line passed our test let's place it in our poem by highlighting the line and copying it. Then highlight the line we will be replacing and right clicking and selecting paste.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
Looks like we could use some punctuation on that line, a period. But let's go on for now. Take care of punctuation in the editing phase. Tell your critic or editor to shhhsss for now. Let your writer/creative have the page or stage if you will.
Read over what you have there.
Do you like it?
Does it express your thoughts clearly?
Notice all the repeating lines are completed!
Now for the real creative, fun part. This is where you make the Villanelle totally your own poem. It will not longer be the free verse poem of long ago, which finally came to be called the Villanelle. It will be your very own Villanelle!
*Let's do it!*
Might as well start at the top with line 2 in tercet stanza 1.
Hmmm. What thought goes with lines 1 and 3 of stanza one and would fit in well in the other lines?
*They should strive to live and to see!*
That develops the poem into a deeper level, but it stands on its own too.
It also has nice "see" rhyme to it.
Checking the dictionary. Plenty of "see" rhymes.
It does have terminating punctuation, so I can't have mid-thought from lines after this line.
But oh! I just checked. I don't need any mid-thought lines in the placement of this one line.
Let's use it.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
Oh, yes. Good. Well, you've just completed the first tercet stanza in your Villanelle.
Step 4: Filling in the Other lines
Since the other lines to be filled in are basically single lines, you move right through the same series of questions filling in those lines.
Always ask yourself how the poem is coming. Read the completed line and complete stanzas and keep moving straight forward in a logical manner like so.
*Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.*
OK. Good, interesting. Love that word fear, substantial word at the beginning of sentences always makes good poetry reading. Let's place it.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
How about this next line:
*Take the path. Do not turn and flee.*
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
Now you have two completed stanza and the best part with some forms is that the end is already finished.
Let's continue with this line:
*Push yourself to your greatest brink.*
And then this line:
*Follow fate, chance and history.*
Just copy and paste and fill them in.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Push yourself to your greatest brink.
Follow fate, chance and history.
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
At this point your almost there, but half done with the stanzas. This is where the forms get tricky and sleepy for the reader. Try to find some way to keep the poem exciting here and interesting. Throw a metaphor or allusion or simile or something at the reader! How about:
*Tread, solve the riddle of the Sphinx.*
If you remember the riddle, it was what goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday and three in the evening? The answer was people or man or humans. So this is one an allusion to this great work in history and it is a metaphor for you treading to solve the riddle of humanity!
OK. It pass my question test, let's fill it in:
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Push yourself to your greatest brink.
Follow fate, chance and history.
Courage, courage to those that think!
Tread, solve the riddle of the sphinx.
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
I'll include the other lines on this Villanelle I wrote called
"Courageous Thinkers" for you:
*Write our human soliloquy!
Before naysayers, do not sink!
Will body, mind and soul all three.
Remember you write with soul's ink,
Flowing from Tao's mystery.*
Courageous Thinkers
(Villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Push yourself to your greatest brink.
Follow fate, chance and history.
Courage, courage to those that think!
Tread, solve the riddle of the sphinx.
Write our human soliloquy!
Those who write themselves must not blink
Before naysayers, do not sink!
Will body, mind and soul all three.
Courage, courage to those that think!
Remember you write with soul's ink,
Flowing from Tao's mystery.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
© Cupideros, 8-2-03
Always ask yourself how the poem is coming. Read the completed line and complete stanzas and keep moving straight forward in a logical manner like so.
*Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.*
OK. Good, interesting. Love that word fear, substantial word at the beginning of sentences always makes good poetry reading. Let's place it.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
How about this next line:
*Take the path. Do not turn and flee.*
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
Now you have two completed stanza and the best part with some forms is that the end is already finished.
Let's continue with this line:
*Push yourself to your greatest brink.*
And then this line:
*Follow fate, chance and history.*
Just copy and paste and fill them in.
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Push yourself to your greatest brink.
Follow fate, chance and history.
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
At this point your almost there, but half done with the stanzas. This is where the forms get tricky and sleepy for the reader. Try to find some way to keep the poem exciting here and interesting. Throw a metaphor or allusion or simile or something at the reader! How about:
*Tread, solve the riddle of the Sphinx.*
If you remember the riddle, it was what goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday and three in the evening? The answer was people or man or humans. So this is one an allusion to this great work in history and it is a metaphor for you treading to solve the riddle of humanity!
OK. It pass my question test, let's fill it in:
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Push yourself to your greatest brink.
Follow fate, chance and history.
Courage, courage to those that think!
Tread, solve the riddle of the sphinx.
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
I'll include the other lines on this Villanelle I wrote called
"Courageous Thinkers" for you:
*Write our human soliloquy!
Before naysayers, do not sink!
Will body, mind and soul all three.
Remember you write with soul's ink,
Flowing from Tao's mystery.*
Courageous Thinkers
(Villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink
They should strive to live and to see!
Courage, courage to those that think!
Fear not the cloudy path that stinks.
Take the path. Do not turn and flee.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Push yourself to your greatest brink.
Follow fate, chance and history.
Courage, courage to those that think!
Tread, solve the riddle of the sphinx.
Write our human soliloquy!
Those who write themselves must not blink
Before naysayers, do not sink!
Will body, mind and soul all three.
Courage, courage to those that think!
Remember you write with soul's ink,
Flowing from Tao's mystery.
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
© Cupideros, 8-2-03
Step 5: Finishing the Villanelle Poem
Hmmm. Now for a title. *Think suggestive.* OK. Courageous Thinkers. I like that because there is so much inside the poem this title hasn't given away yet. Put your copyright date on the poem too. Normally this goes at the bottom of the poem. I went back and put the title and copyright as you see.
Ta-Da!! It's done.
At this point reread it and punctuate it and let your editor go over the lines a bit. You'll probably find your editor has very little work to do because the poem is written in a step-by-step method your left brain finds enjoyable, but a method your right brain writer-self can enjoy too!
Now you can follow this same pattern of selecting forms, filling in rhymes, sentences and completing stanzas with any other type of poetry forms that exist. This is a very easy, practical approach, you're bound to have fun.
Try it and good luck.
Ta-Da!! It's done.
At this point reread it and punctuate it and let your editor go over the lines a bit. You'll probably find your editor has very little work to do because the poem is written in a step-by-step method your left brain finds enjoyable, but a method your right brain writer-self can enjoy too!
Now you can follow this same pattern of selecting forms, filling in rhymes, sentences and completing stanzas with any other type of poetry forms that exist. This is a very easy, practical approach, you're bound to have fun.
Try it and good luck.
RECAP SUMMARY
*So RECAP*: All you're doing is replacing the lines of one Villanelle with your lines. Just follow the graphics poems and you'll see the development easily:
START WITH THIS:
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
People scurrying to meet their fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Snow covers the houses and the street
Extra burden means they may be late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Despite the cold, their manners are still sweet
Bonjour, ca va? Brief stories they relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Thread through the trees, aligned so neat
Into the market place, with hurried gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
And to the artist's stall, the latest treat
Just time to take a glance, but not to wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
A waterlily dream, poppies in wheat?
Secluded bridge? No, a cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
*MOVE TO THIS. You can start at this phase if you want. I ALWAYS DO*. The repeating lines are separated from the blank lines and the ending rhyme scheme is in place. In fact I list my forms like this and start here. Although originally I started with a full form poem. I have a series of documents in forms, sonnet form.doc, pantoum form.doc, etc.:
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
THEN TO THIS (replacing the first form lines with your original lines):
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think! (<--Your original first line.)
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Courage, courage to those that think!
THEN THIS:
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink (<--your second original line)
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
And so on and so on until your Villanelle or other form poem is complete.
Try it and good luck.
START WITH THIS:
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
People scurrying to meet their fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Snow covers the houses and the street
Extra burden means they may be late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Despite the cold, their manners are still sweet
Bonjour, ca va? Brief stories they relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Thread through the trees, aligned so neat
Into the market place, with hurried gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
And to the artist's stall, the latest treat
Just time to take a glance, but not to wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
A waterlily dream, poppies in wheat?
Secluded bridge? No, a cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
*MOVE TO THIS. You can start at this phase if you want. I ALWAYS DO*. The repeating lines are separated from the blank lines and the ending rhyme scheme is in place. In fact I list my forms like this and start here. Although originally I started with a full form poem. I have a series of documents in forms, sonnet form.doc, pantoum form.doc, etc.:
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Headlong in the rush, someone to meet
Copyright soulsease 2001
THEN TO THIS (replacing the first form lines with your original lines):
Monet (villanelle)
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think! (<--Your original first line.)
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
City filled with sounds of stamping feet
Courage, courage to those that think!
THEN THIS:
Monet (villanelle)
Those who write themselves must not blink (<--your second original line)
---------------------------- fate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- street
---------------------------- late
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- sweet
---------------------------- relate
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- neat
---------------------------- gait
Those who write themselves must not blink
---------------------------- treat
---------------------------- wait
Courage, courage to those that think!
---------------------------- wheat?
---------------------------- cityscape...
Those who write themselves must not blink
Courage, courage to those that think!
And so on and so on until your Villanelle or other form poem is complete.
Try it and good luck.
Abstract To Concrete Poetry
Two Villanelles from my book Abstract to Concrete Poetry
COME PLAY VILLANELLE
O my love, when again do we play
And bruise the hours of Peacock's Time?
Come, come to me day after day.
Spot to spot, I move showing my display.
Each hour a new spread hue of the vine.
O my love, when again do we play?
I provide liquid roses lined in array.
You sip the drops of rainbow shine.
Come, come to me day after day.
Why stop my feathered soothsays
Us being to each other one of a kind.
O my love, when again do we play?
I will sing in my fluttered bay-bay--bay.
As I strut before you subtle and sublime.
Come, come to me day after day!
My thousand eyes on you only lay.
Say "Yes," my love. Be forever mine.
O my love, when again do we play?
Come, come to me day after day.
© Cupideros, 12 14 2003, 4: 35 am
PALM TREE (Villanelle)
Fool me? Except I know you like palm trees,
By the warm wild scents of the sea of late,
Tall and thick, he swayed coconuts and leaves.
Calling ready for something wet to cleave.
You went to the beach and your lusty date.
Fool me? Except I know you like palm trees.
Ah, sweet innocence under your pink sleeves.
Not womanly desires unleashed by fates
Tall and thick, he swayed coconuts and leaves.
My darling you made my heart heave and grieve.
I thought I was nearing your sweet home plate.
Foolish me! I knew, knew you liked palm trees.
I am just a nice guy who still believes
A woman waits for a man's kindly traits--
Tall and thick, swaying coconuts and leaves.
But you want what art achieves and relieves!
To draw until you are a master great.
Foolish me, I know! You like palms that weave
Tall and thick, swaying coconuts and leaves.
© Cupideros, 12/5/2003 6:39 PM
COME PLAY VILLANELLE
O my love, when again do we play
And bruise the hours of Peacock's Time?
Come, come to me day after day.
Spot to spot, I move showing my display.
Each hour a new spread hue of the vine.
O my love, when again do we play?
I provide liquid roses lined in array.
You sip the drops of rainbow shine.
Come, come to me day after day.
Why stop my feathered soothsays
Us being to each other one of a kind.
O my love, when again do we play?
I will sing in my fluttered bay-bay--bay.
As I strut before you subtle and sublime.
Come, come to me day after day!
My thousand eyes on you only lay.
Say "Yes," my love. Be forever mine.
O my love, when again do we play?
Come, come to me day after day.
© Cupideros, 12 14 2003, 4: 35 am
PALM TREE (Villanelle)
Fool me? Except I know you like palm trees,
By the warm wild scents of the sea of late,
Tall and thick, he swayed coconuts and leaves.
Calling ready for something wet to cleave.
You went to the beach and your lusty date.
Fool me? Except I know you like palm trees.
Ah, sweet innocence under your pink sleeves.
Not womanly desires unleashed by fates
Tall and thick, he swayed coconuts and leaves.
My darling you made my heart heave and grieve.
I thought I was nearing your sweet home plate.
Foolish me! I knew, knew you liked palm trees.
I am just a nice guy who still believes
A woman waits for a man's kindly traits--
Tall and thick, swaying coconuts and leaves.
But you want what art achieves and relieves!
To draw until you are a master great.
Foolish me, I know! You like palms that weave
Tall and thick, swaying coconuts and leaves.
© Cupideros, 12/5/2003 6:39 PM
Great Stuff on Amazon on Poetry
Villanelle Poems for Purchase
For Free Online Poetry and Fiction Writing Course
http://www.cupiderosbooks.com/WritingLessons.html
Cupiderosbooks.com Free Online Poetry and Fiction Course
For more books by the Cupideros
http://www.cupiderosbooks.com/testimonials.html
For more books by the Cupideros
http://www.cupiderosbooks.com/testimonials.html
by Cupideros
Hello world. This is Cupideros. I am a mystic, astrologer, feminist poet and fiction writer. My website http://www.cupiderosbooks.com list my free w... more »
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